'plumbing goop' a fix?

So, I've just finished a very intense plumbing job in my new bathroom. Put in toilet, sink, old tub back in, sweated a million joints, all leak free. shutoff valves all leak free.

Long story short, with the tub supplies, I wound up threading on a 3/4" female thread to 1/2" copper pipe adapter, right onto the male nipples of the faucet in back of the tub. I double tefloned it, then cranked them both down very hard. Then I dry fitting on the 90s, the vertical copper pipes, and all the rest of it to the floor (by a very circuitous route).

Turned everything back on, little droplets coming out of BOTH of the copper threaded adapters, right at the faucet nipples.

Now, I knew this was basically "for keeps" sweating everything on like that.
So, rather than try to cut pipes and unsweat and make a huge headache, I decided to slather the leaky areas with "plumbers goop." This is some semi hard curing epoxy, silicony like stuff that I used on my overflow plate on the tub.

I've just drained the lines and applied it, so waiting overnight before I turn water back on.

Will this work? Can I basically feel confident it will keep the leak at bay?

I have a Strom faucet, ordered "bathcock couplings" from Sig. Hardware, was told they would fit, they don't. Strom and Sig HArdware both highly unpleasant to deal with. Can't get a straight answer from anyone.
I've been all over town and to all the plumbers and supply houses. No one had anything that would work. I didn't want to use the leaky compression fittings on the cheap supply lines I had.

So, in no mood to do it any other way, at this point. But of course I need it to stop leaking.

PUlled off the tub drain! Someone gave me an old 1 3/8" drain assembly, and I yanked the whole "T" off of that, used the nuts and washers it came with. THen I had to use reducing washers on the 1 1/4" bit going into the ABS in the floor.
A HUGE hassle, and I learned an enormous amount of plumbing skills.

I will never deal with Strom PLumbing again, or Signature Hardware, and I will likely never deal with a clawfoot tub again, if I can help it.

Grazie

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'plumbing goop' a fix?

I really want to give you a positive answer....

Plumbers goop is pretty awesome versatile stuff (and it smells great ). Buuuuut, I seriously doubt that it would be a good long-term fix for supply plumbing. It might hold for days, weeks, or even months, but that leak will find its way out.

Nothing more frustrating than the position you're in. I've been there for sure. But you'll end up regretting relying on this stuff to keep the supply plumbing from leaking.

'plumbing goop' a fix?

what about heating up the first joint at the street 90 below the adapter, then just trying to tighten it some more?
how tight should it be?
it this a connection that can ever be leak proof, no matter how hard i torque it down?

'plumbing goop' a fix?

If you want it done right you are going to have to start over. You said you double wrapped the fittings with teflon tape. Does that mean you went around the pipe twice? I usually wrap the threads about four times. Also make sure you keep the tape nice and tight around the threads.

It is possible that you received some bad fittings. About twenty years ago I worked for a city that had its own gas company. Spent the summer re-plumbing gas meters. We received a shipment of street elbows that had a very high failure rate. At first the old guys (I was young then) blamed it on the younger guys (we had slightly more problems with them). Once they started experiencing a high failure rate, management sent the fittings back and got a new shipment. Problem solved.

Your idea of heating the fitting to tighten the pipe will not work. If you want to try to tighten the fitting more you will have to take the joint apart. If you do that you might as well replace the fitting.

On the thread fitting...besides wrapping like Brokenknee suggests...I ALWAYS apply pipe dope on top of the Teflon tape after getting that suggestion right here in River City from Ron the Plumber, whom I thank EVERY time I do this and it holds the first time.....THANKS AGAIN RON! Check it out for your self.....Teflon tape or pipe dope It might be over kill, but even on the union, I put pipe dope on those threads as well. It keeps them lubricated when tightening and that small bit of lubrication makes it WAY easier to really snug them up well.

__________________when it comes to breakfast, the chicken is dedicated, the pig is committed.
LMASD

'plumbing goop' a fix?

I have a hard time believing that the threads aren't tapered. That would be a very odd circumstance and I find it unlikely. Either way, tightening it down more probably isn't going to stop a leak, and might cause more problems.

On a 3/4" threaded fitting I usually give at least 5 wraps of teflon tape. Two wraps is not enough. Pipe dope is another good option, and some guys combine it with teflon tape.

Re-heating the soldered joints is not a great thing to do. That'll just increase the chance of a leak at the heated joint.

'plumbing goop' a fix?

If they are indeed straight threads rather than tapered,,,it isnt gonna work. Straight threads seal as a compression. See if you can find a straight thread on one end and tapered on the other,,adapter if you will. Try a Napa store,,I think there is a hydralic fitting that will do that!! Anybody that 'makes' hyralic hoses. Straight threads are a witch!!! BTW,,,I was always told if 2 wraps of teflon tape wont hold it from leaking,,,ten wont either!! I find OVER 2 wraps of teflon tape 'sometimes' make them leak worse

'plumbing goop' a fix?

I have heard of the pipe dope / Teflon combination. I personally do not think it is necessary. Use one or the other and make sure you tighten properly. Tape only on PVC, CPVC and ABS fitting, no dope.

I respectfully disagree.

I've always had hit/miss luck getting tape alone to seal...unless I tightened the fittings REALLY tight, which I don't like to to do. The combo of tape and dope seals well with out having to over-tighten the fitting. I can't remember the last time I had a leak using the tape/dope method.

If you've not done it...you should try it...for the slight cost in money and time, why not do it?

__________________when it comes to breakfast, the chicken is dedicated, the pig is committed.
LMASD

'plumbing goop' a fix?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RippySkippy

I respectfully disagree.

I've always had hit/miss luck getting tape alone to seal...unless I tightened the fittings REALLY tight, which I don't like to to do. The combo of tape and dope seals well with out having to over-tighten the fitting. I can't remember the last time I had a leak using the tape/dope method.

If you've not done it...you should try it...for the slight cost in money and time, why not do it?

I have tried it, just seams like an extra unnecessary messy step. I have not had a problem with the tape.

As you state the cost is not even a factor, if it works for you keep doing it.

'plumbing goop' a fix?

i just had a similar problem. threaded copper connections to my brass shower valve had a slow leak (about a drop ever couple of hours). i had used regular white teflon tape. after reading this thread i took it about, used the thicker pink teflon tape and pipe dope on top of the tape, and it worked perfectly. thanks!